DUTY OF AN ATTORNEY TO THE LAWHOMESTEADSAn attorney who knows the
property in question to be a homestead may not have the owner convey to a third party who
reconveys to the owner retaining a vendor's lien, or who executes a mortgage and reconveys
to the owner who assumes the mortgage.

It is a violation of the Canons of Ethics for an attorney, who knows the property in
question to be a homestead, to follow the regular practice of having the owner convey to a
third party who reconveys to the owner retaining a vendor's lien, or who executes a
mortgage and reconveys to the owner who assumes the mortgage?

Opinion

It is the unanimous opinion of this committee that such practice is a violation of the
Canons. Some members cited American Bar Canons 15 and 22, Texas Bar Canon 29, and Article
309 the Revised Civil Statutes of Texas in support of their views. The other members
expressed the view that such practice constitutes a subterfuge which has been frequently
condemned by the courts, and should be, and is, condemned by this Committee. (10-0)